Turtle Back Zoo Holiday Lights Spectacular
Take a winter walk through the zoo grounds illuminated by sparkling displays of winter and animal characters. Open evening attractions include the miniature train, touch tank, reptile house, carousel, and farm. Visitors can also watch live ice carving demonstrations, enjoy musical princess sing-a-longs, and meet Santa at the gazebo.
Nov 20 – Dec 31, 2026 All ages
See more Christmas lights near West Orange
Plan Your Visit
Tickets
Admission is free and reservations are not required. The page marks the carousel, pony track, gift shop, face painting and food options with “$”.
Hours
5pm to 9pm nightly. Santa meet-and-greet: 5pm–8:30pm (lines may close earlier). Ice carving demonstrations start at 6pm. Princess performances are at 6:30pm and 7:30pm.
Food & Drink
The café is open, with s’mores, kettle corn, hot cocoa, zeppole, and holiday treats available at locations around the grounds.
Accessibility
The zoo's miniature train ride is wheelchair accessible.
Pets
No pets are permitted.
Location
Tips & Advice
- Admission does not require a reservation, but reserve an igloo by the picnic area if you plan to use one.
- Go to Santa’s gazebo during the meet-and-greet dates; no appointment is needed, but the line may close early.
- Plan around the dated entertainment: ice carving, princess appearances, superhero meet-and-greets and the Grinch visit are on selected dates.
- Bring a donation of non-perishable food, a new toy or a gently used coat for the season-of-giving drive.
- Visitors aged 17 and under should come with a chaperone; power wheels and remote-controlled devices are not allowed.
Special Events & Promotions
- Admission is free; reservations are not required.
- Zoo members have a separate Holiday Lights session on November 19.
- Santa meet-and-greet is free on December 4–6, December 11–13, and nightly December 16–23; professional photos can be purchased on site.
- Ice-carving demonstrations are scheduled on November 20 and 27 and December 4, 11, and 18.
- The Grinch meet-and-greet is scheduled December 18–20.
Links & Contact
Run by Zoological Society of New Jersey
Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide, not the organizer of this event. For tickets, entries, vendor spots or questions, contact the organizer directly through their contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the event suitable for children?
Visitors aged 17 and under must be accompanied by a chaperone.
Do I need to reserve admission?
No, reservations are not required for admission. No appointment is needed to meet Santa, though Santa’s line may close earlier.
What can visitors do during the evening?
The event has illuminated winter and animal characters, a carousel, touch tank, reptile house, farm, pony track and train. Ice carving, character appearances and princess sing-alongs take place on selected dates.
What food and drink options are available?
The café is open. S’mores are outside the café, kettle corn and hot cocoa are by the train, zeppole are by Sea Turtle, and holiday treats are by Africa. Igloos by the picnic area require reservations.
Can I bring my pet?
No. Pets are not permitted on the grounds.
Browse Christmas in West Orange
Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.